Fastener



E KERN Aug. 4, 1942;

FASTENER Original Filed Feb. 1 1940 JIVVE/VTUF.

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ATTDHNEK Patented Aug. 4, 1942 2,292,225 FASTENER.

Emil Kern, Long Island City, N. Y., assig-nor to Acco Products, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application February 1, 1940, Serial No.

316,755, now Patent No. 2,264,984, dated December 2, 1941. Divided and this application June 7, 1941, Serial No. 397,024

6 Claims. (01. 24 153) This is a division carved out of application Serial No. 316,755, filed February 1, 1940, which issued December 2, 1941 into Patent No. 2,264,984.

The invention relates to improvements in fasteners and more particularly to a novelty constructed fastener compressor of the type adapted to cooperate with prongs on an associated base to bind papers securely in a file.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel fastener compressor with a hingedly mounted frame of a character to jointly hold spaced prongs of an associated base bent down over the face of the compressor.

Another object is to provide a fastener com- Referring particularly to the drawing, the fas-. tener compressor consists of a substantially elongated sheet of stiff material I I, such as sheet metal, preferably formed at each end with a recess 12. The compressor is adapted to be used in cooperation with a well known type of base element l3 having spaced bendable prongs M adapted to extend through similarly spaced openings in a stack of papers IS. The end portions of the prongs extending through the stack are then bent inwardly'toward each other downwardly over and against the top face of the compressor plate H. The spacing of the prongs l4 and the inside edge of the recesses l2 are pressor with a substantially rectangular frame l5 substantially identical, consequently the prongs hingedly and slidably connected thereto along engage in said recesses to prevent lateral shiftone edge in a novel manner to facilitate its being ing of the compressor plate relative thereto.

easily and securely locked in position over prongs One longitudinal edge of the compressor plate bent over the top face of the compressor. His folded upwardly and then inwardly to define Another object is to provide a fastener com- 2. an elevated longitudinal lip l6. Portions of the pressor of the type having a hingedly and slidlip are cut away at a predetermined distance ably mounted prong securing frame, with means from each end thereof to provide notches l1 and to prevent sliding movement of the frame while thereby define three lip sections I8, 19 and 2|. in its open or unlocked position. The section 18 is rolled over inwardly and down- Another object is to provide a fastener comwardly to provide a bearing element to receive pressor of the character described which is not a longitudinally extending end portion 22 of expensive to manufacture and which is easy to the latch frame 23 mounted upon the comoperate and efficient in use. pressor. The other end portion 24 of the latch The foregoing and such other objects of the frame 23 is in the same plane and extends in the invention as will appear hereinafter as the de- 39 same direction as the end portion 22. It is jourscription proceeds will be more readily undernaled in a bearing element 25 preferably formed stood from a perusal of the following specificaby rolling an end portion of the intermediate tion, in which reference is made to the accomlip section l9 downwardly in a manner similar panying drawing, wherein: to the formation of bearing element 22.

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the compressor The latch frame 23 preferably is formed of subin use with the latching frame closed but unstantially stiff wire and includes transverse porlocked. tions 26 and a longitudinally extending medial Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on portion 21. With the latch in the position illusline 22 of Fig. 1, showing the latching frame trated in Fig. 1, its transverse portions 26 align raised, in dotted lines. with the notches l1 and it is free to be swung,

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1, showing from the position shown, upwardly into a subthe latching frame locked. stantially vertical position as illustrated in dotted Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on lines in Fig. 2. While in its down or closed posiline 44 of Fig. 3. tion, the longitudinal portion 21 of the latch The present invention primarily is concerned 4.5 overlies the bent over prongs l4. Because the with a fastener compressor having a novel latchprongs normally tend to straighten, due to the ing frame hingedly and slidably mounted along inherent resilience of their material, means one longitudinal edge thereof readily engageable therefore necessarily is provided to prevent unfor movement toward or away from prongs overdesirable free swinging of the latch frame 23. lying the top face of the compressor; and includ- 60 Accordingly, the latch frame 23 is shiftable ing novel means embodied in the structure longitudinally into a position substantially as hingedly and slidably connecting the frame to the shown in Fig. 3 whereby its transverse portions compressor whereby said frame is readily moved 26 are positioned beneath the elevated, lip 16 and positively locked in its closed prong securconstituting the major part of the intermediate ing position. portion 19 and a part of the end portion 2|.

Longitudinal shifting of the latch frame 23, in the direction to lock said frame in its down or closed position, preferably is limited by striking the outer or extreme end of the lip portion 2| downwardly, as at 28. While said latch frame is in its elevated unlocked position, shifting is prevented by abutment of the transverse portions 28 of the latch frame with the edges of the notches ll.

It is evident that the instant structure embodies a hingedly mounted latch frame which is readily locked in closed position over the bent down prongs merely by sliding said latch frame longitudinally a relatively short distance. Of particular importance are the structural features which afford mounting and locking of the latch frame along one longitudinal edge of the compressor plate. This leaves the opposite edge of the compressor plate free of any projection, rib or other objectionable element which might tend to prevent or interfere with ready access to the prongs to effect their being bent or straightened to attach or remove the compressor plate from the stack.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention may embody a variety of modifications in detail structure without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adapted to have prongs bent down over its ends inwardly against one face, a frame, a slidable hinged connection joining one edge of said frame to one edge of said plate, and elevated lips on the said edge of the plate arranged to overhang a portion of the frame when the latter is positioned to overlie the prongs and shifted longitudinally to lock said frame against movement from over said prongs.

2. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adapted to have prongs bent down over its ends inwardly against one face, a frame having a hinged and longitudinally slidable connection with said plate, said frame being movable from a substantially vertical position downwardly against said prongs, and means on said plate for engaging and holding the frame against said prongs when said frame is moved longitudinally in one direction, said means engaging the frame to prevent 1ongitudinal movement thereof while in said substantially vertical position.

3. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adapted. to have prongs bent down over its ends inwardly against one face, an elongated frame, a slidable hinged connection joining one longitudinal edge of said frame to one longitudinal edge of said plate, said frame being hingedly movable into a position to overlie the bent prongs, and means in said hinged connection effective upon longitudinal sliding of the frame to co-act with a portion of said frame and lock it down against said prongs.

4. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adapted to have prongs bent down over its ends inwardly against one face, a frame substantially in the form of a rectangular loop having one longitudinal side portion hingedly and slidably connected with one longitudinal edge of said plate for swinging movement toward and away from said plate, and means on said longitudinal plate edge arranged to overlie transverse end portions of said loop to hold it down against said prongs when said loop is moved longitudinally in one direction.

5. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adaptedtohaveprongs bent down inwardly against its top face, a frame having a hinged and longitudinally slidable permanent connection with one edge of said plate, and elevated lips on said plate edge to overlie the frame and hold it down against said prongs when said frame is moved longitudinally in one direction.

6. A fastener compressor comprising, in combination, an elongated plate adapted to have prongs bentdown over its ends inwardly against one face, a frame, a slidable hinged connection joining one edge of said frame to one edge of said plate whereby the frame may be swung toward or away from said plate, and means in said hinged connection effective upon longitudinal sliding of the frame to lock said frame down against said prongs.

EMIL KERN. 

